Patterson Elite Adds Former Astronaut Trainer to Leadership Team

13th Feb 2018

Augusta, KS, Feb. 13, 2018 --
Patterson Elite Performance announces the addition of Valori “VeeJay” Booth as a
new member to the leadership team at their performance racing engine shop in
America’s heartland.

Since the 2016 retirement of Allan
Patterson, the company’s founder, his son, Todd, has taken over the reins,
running the daily operations of the world-class race shop. “With my changing
role here, I have been looking to add someone to our team that has both a
background in racing and the drive to take our business to the next level,”
remarked Todd. “I’ve known VeeJay since her days racing Junior Dragsters. She
came to work for us in ’96 and was in charge of public relations for our Pro
Stock Truck team. Her family campaigned a Super Pro altered with Patterson
power, which VeeJay drove, so I knew her commitment to the sport and the
quality of her work.”

A racer since age 8, starting out
in the Soap Box Derby, VeeJay has had a passion for all things fast since the
beginning. During college, she put her racing career on hold however, to pursue
another high-speed dream, working in the space program. Ms. Booth has a
bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas, and
master’s degree in Engineering Management from the University of Southern
California. She spent her early career at NASA as a Space Flight Trainer for
astronauts and flight controllers, teaching them to live and work on the
International Space Station.

“It was a dream come true to
spend my days working with astronauts and supporting America’s exploration of space,
and it is as much a dream to be returning to my roots and working once again in
motorsports,” said Booth. “It is an incredible honor to be a part of a
legendary drag racing team.”

Todd Patterson states, “Recently
when I learned VeeJay had become available, it felt like perfect timing for
both of us, and a natural fit. Her varied background in engineering, public
relations, business management and racing helps her look at challenges in a
totally different way. She’s here to breathe new life into our operation, build
on our solid foundation of excellence, and grow us into the cutting edge
performance racing shop of tomorrow.”